TRANSDUCER CARTRIDGE FOR AN ULTRASOUND THERAPY HEAD
First Claim
1. A cartridge connectable to a body to form a therapy head, said cartridge comprising:
- a sealed enclosure comprising a wall having an acoustic window therein and having an interior and an exterior surface, wherein the interior is filled with an acoustic coupling liquid;
a high intensity ultrasound transducer within the enclosure and having an output surface generally aligned with the acoustic window;
a bearing member passing through an opening in the wall and coupled to the high intensity ultrasonic transducer, said opening being sealed to prevent loss of the acoustic coupling liquid and said bearing member being attachable to a driver in the body to orient the direction of acoustic energy delivered through the window by the high intensity ultrasonic transducer; and
a heat exchanger thermally coupled to draw heat from the acoustic coupling liquid without removing said liquid from the sealed enclosure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical ultrasound system. A base unit is included having system electronics, a user interface and ultrasound control electronics. An ultrasound therapy head is in electronic communication with the base unit. The therapy head includes a replaceable, sealed transducer cartridge with a coupling fluid therein. A cooling system is provided for cooling the coupling fluid. A plurality of guide indicators are positioned around the therapy head to align with crossed lines on a patient so as to properly align the therapy head prior to use. The therapy head can provide variable treatments to an area while the therapy head is in contact with a patient.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A cartridge connectable to a body to form a therapy head, said cartridge comprising:
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a sealed enclosure comprising a wall having an acoustic window therein and having an interior and an exterior surface, wherein the interior is filled with an acoustic coupling liquid; a high intensity ultrasound transducer within the enclosure and having an output surface generally aligned with the acoustic window; a bearing member passing through an opening in the wall and coupled to the high intensity ultrasonic transducer, said opening being sealed to prevent loss of the acoustic coupling liquid and said bearing member being attachable to a driver in the body to orient the direction of acoustic energy delivered through the window by the high intensity ultrasonic transducer; and a heat exchanger thermally coupled to draw heat from the acoustic coupling liquid without removing said liquid from the sealed enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A cartridge for use with an ultrasound therapy head, the cartridge comprising:
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an enclosure having an exterior surface and a liquid tight interior; a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer mounted in the liquid tight interior; and a coil heat exchanger within the liquid tight interior; and means for maintaining a desired temperature in the liquid tight volume by utilizing fluid flow through the heat exchanger to remove heat from the liquid tight interior. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A cartridge connectable to a body to form a therapy head, said cartridge comprising:
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a sealed enclosure comprising a wall having an acoustic window therein and having an interior and an exterior surface, wherein the interior is filled with an acoustic coupling liquid; a high intensity ultrasonic transducer within the enclosure and having an output surface generally aligned with the acoustic windows; a means for manipulating the high intensity ultrasonic transducer passing through an opening in the wall, said opening being sealed to prevent loss of the acoustic coupling liquid and said manipulation means being attachable to a driver in the body to change the direction of acoustic energy delivered through the window by the high intensity ultrasonic transducer; and a means for drawing heat from the acoustic coupling liquid without removing said liquid from the sealed enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification